In July, the internet supermarket and Migros subsidiary LeShop presented a study of a different kind: It proves that shopping on the Internet is good for the environment. The findings are the result of a scientific comparison between individual supermarket visits and ordering from Leshop.ch. Coordinated collective deliveries reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions by an average of two thirds. This means that 3.5 kilos less CO2 are released into the atmosphere per purchase, according to a press release. For the study, 14 deliveries to 164 customers were measured on Friday, June 23 and compared with the pollution caused by individual trips to the supermarket. The result, according to the press release: around 3.5 kilos of CO2 are saved per online purchase, which means less pollution for the atmosphere. Households would save up to 85 liters of diesel oil per year - as much as is needed to heat a bathroom.

The publishing director of the consumer magazine "Beobachter", Roland Oetterli, is leaving Jean Frey Verlag at the end of September. According to a press release, he wishes to pursue a new professional challenge. Oetterli was a member of the media company's management team and was responsible for Group Key Account Management. "We are losing a committed and human colleague who has contributed a great deal to the success of the Beobachter," writes Filippo Leutenegger, CEO of Jean Frey AG.

In July 2006, Swiss television SF achieved an average market share of 32.6 percent for the whole day. This means that public television increased by 1.2 percentage points compared to the previous year in all time zones. The biggest increase was in the late evening with a plus of 4.2 percent.
The annual average generated from January to July 2006 is 35.9%, which corresponds to an increase of 2.5 percentage points compared to the annual average of the previous year. Here too, the increase affects all time periods. However, the increase is greatest on the evening before with a plus of 6.7 percentage points.

In July, Swiss television also made gains in the advertising-relevant target group of 15 to 49-year-olds. The all-day average market share of 27.4 percent was 2.9 percent up on the previous year. In the months January to July 2006, SF achieved a market share of 30.6 percent. Compared to the previous year, this represents an increase of 3.9 percentage points.

Advertising sales in June rose by 5.0% year-on-year to CHF 335 million. As the June data from the AIS Advertising Index Switzerland published by WEMF AG für Werbemedienforschung shows, the following sectors in particular invested more in advertising: Services (+ 38 percent), Politics/Business/Administration/Industry (+ 36.5 percent), Watches/Jewelry (+ 31.4 percent), Finance/Insurance (+ 30.6 percent), Media (+23.5 percent), Office/Computer Science (+ 20.8 percent), UE/Photo/Optics/Listening (+ 17.6 percent), Pharma/Health (+ 11.6 percent), Telecommunications/Internet (+11.6 percent) and Clothing/Shoes (+ 10.1 percent).
In contrast, the following sectors invested less in advertising: Tobacco products (-25.2%), beverages (-22.9%) and transportation (-16.5%). The remaining sectors invested a maximum of 10% more or less than in the same month of the previous year.

The Bern-based communications agency Republica, part of Contexta Holding since 1999, is going independent. With retroactive effect from January 1, 2006, the three management members Barbara Trachsel (CEO), Chris Morgan (Creative Director) and Re Wilk (Creative Director) take over the company with 26 employees via a management buy-out. Republica currently offers a similar range of services to Contexta, Daniel Hartmann (CEO of Contexta) explained in a press release. However, the full-service agency will continue to cooperate with Contexta in the areas of Internet, events and public relations. The company headquarters in Bern's Matte district will also remain. Since 1999, Republica has been serving major national and international companies, SMEs and non-profit organizations such as the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE), the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), the Gurten Festival, Microsoft Switzerland, Post Finance and the City of Berne. Republica's Public Relations division is covered by its subsidiary Pr Access, which has been managed by Willi Brand since July 1, 2006.

The Goldbach Electronic Media Index (GEMI) for TV, radio, the Internet, and teletext rose from 319 to 322 points in June. This reflects the continued growth of electronic media. Gross advertising spending on TV and the Internet showed a clear increase in June. Television rose by 4 index points to 327 (323 in May 2006). The Internet also showed a clear increase, rising by 5 points from 211 to 216. Radio gained 1 index point, rising from 246 to 247. Teletext, however, lost another 2 points in June, reaching a low of 146. Total media investment remains unchanged from May 2006 at 170 index points. The index is based on data published by Media Focus regarding advertising investment in Switzerland and is calculated by the advertising agency Goldbach Media. 

Until last Friday, the NZZ am Sonntag was not allowed to disclose the names of the pension funds, insurance companies and organizations involved in the run-up to the Swissfirst/Bellevue bank merger and was only allowed to report anonymously. On Friday, the provisional injunction issued by the Zurich District Court against NZZ am Sonntag was lifted. As the NZZ Am Sonntag announced in its last issue, it is now permitted to name the names of those involved. The case concerns the merger between the banks Swissfirst and Bellevue, which took place on September 12, 2005. The provisional injunction was obtained by the Swissfirst bank.

In two weeks' time, a rather unusual internet auction will start on Ebay Switzerland: Zurich television station U1 TV is auctioning off a presenting appearance on its in-house weather show via an online exchange. The auction starts on Monday, August 21 at 5 pm. Under the motto "Everyone is entitled to 15 minutes of fame", anyone can bid - the proceeds will be donated in full to a homeless project. At the end of the online auction, U1 TV will invite the highest bidder to the studio. After a training session on presenting, styling and make-up, it's off to the set - the presentation will be broadcast in Switzerland on the same day. 

The new Swiss football magazine ''EuroSoccer'' will be available for purchase for the first time on September 1, 2006. Advertising activities will start at the beginning of August. According to a press release, the magazine will be published with a circulation of 50,000 copies in time for the start of the Euro 2008 qualifiers, making it the largest football magazine in Switzerland. The bar is set high, as the decision to launch the magazine was only taken on June 26. The project is being realized by Ulrich Kühne-Hellmessen, the managing editor-in-chief of Sportverlag Europa. The company was founded three years ago; it is also responsible for the ''official Bundesliga magazine'', which is published by the German Football League (DFL) in Germany. ''EuroSoccer'' is aimed at a target audience of football fans aged between 8 and 80. It will be available in every Coop store and at kiosks. The retail price for the 84-page magazine is CHF 5, while an annual subscription is available for CHF 50 (12 issues). The focus of the content concept is on Euro 2008, the Swiss national team and international stars. Background reports from Europe's top leagues and information from the European Championship qualifiers, commented on by national team coach Köbi Kuhn, round off the magazine. Stéphane Chapuisat has been recruited as a columnist. According to the press release, the editorial team draws its journalistic expertise from a broad network that Sportverlag Europa has built up over the past three years.

The Swiss food company Hero has commissioned Ogilvy One Zurich with the communication measures surrounding the Hero Merci promotion. Various off- and online measures and packaging designs were implemented to mark the 120th anniversary. According to a press release, Hero is using the promotion to thank its customers for their loyalty, but is also aiming to acquire new customers. For the anniversary edition of Hero Delicia jams, Ogilvy designed the labels in retro design as well as the Jubilé pack. The Zurich-based agency also developed special promotional labels for the salad dressings. The measures at the point of sale include displays and leaflets on various Hero products, which are supported by competitions. The core element is the website
where visitors can take part in a recipe competition and call up information about Hero. Hero also uses advertisements in the Coop press to thank its customers and draw attention to its offers.

Ruf Lanz may take care of the holiest of all Swiss cows in the future: Lovely. After a competitive presentation, the Swiss Milk Producers SMP decided to work with the Zurich-based creative agency. According to SMP advertising managers Charlotte Hofstetter and Martin Rüst, Ruf Lanz showed with a surprising concept "that Lovely is far from having exhausted all advertising possibilities." The first milk campaigns from the Ruf Lanz stable will be seen in 2007.

Since last week, the winners of the Red Dot Award: Communication Design 2006 have been determined: Among the prize winners are also some Swiss. Niklaus Troxler from Willisau was able to impress the jury three times in the poster category: The poster for the Marty Ehrlich Quartet NY won a Best of the Best award. His work for the Jazz Festival Willisau 2005 and the poster for Rob Stewart-Arthur Blythe also receive a Red Dot. Neeser & Müller from Basel also receive a Best of the Best award in the Editorial category for the book design of "Geballte Gegenwart". Furthermore, Büro4 from Zurich receives a Red Dot in this category for the project documentation "Jung & Alt Stadt"; Comfactory from Basel receives an award for the annual report of Novartis in the category Corporate Design.
The award ceremony for the Red Dot Award: Communication Design 2006 will take place on December 8, 2006, at the Essen Philharmonie. Until then, things will remain exciting in the area of honorary awards. Both the winners of the honorary award "Red dot: Grand Prix", which is awarded for the best work in each category, and the winner of the Red Dot: Junior Prize for the best student work, which is endowed with 10,000 euros for the first time, will be announced then. According to a media release, the jury found the 3708 entries from 31 nations to be of high quality. Awards will be presented in the new categories of Corporate Design, Informational Design/Public Space, Advertising, Packaging Design, Editorial, Poster, Interactive Media, TV & Cinema and Sound Design to 210 works, 24 of which will receive a Red Dot: Best of the Best. These creative products are quiet but subtle, they touch emotionally and get under the skin with wit and irony, says award initiator Peter Zec, summing up the results. All the award-winning works can be viewed at the Red Dot Design Museum in Essen from December 9, 2006 to January 7, 2007.